SWEDISH prosecutors WILL travel to London to interview Wikileaks founder Julian Assange over sexual assault allegations, in a shock U-turn announced today.

Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies in the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward

Lead prosecutor Marianne Ny

Authorities have previously refused to interview Mr Assange - who denies allegations he sexually assaulted two women - inside the Ecuador embassy building, where he has been holed up since June 2012.

But today Swedish prosecutors asked to conduct an interview as well as a DNA test with the 43-year-old at the London address.

The move, an apparent backing down by Swedish officials, comes as it was recently revealed that providing a 24-hour guard at the embassy has so far cost British taxpayers an estimated £10m.

Wikileaks representative Kristinn Hrafnsson said he was surprised by the U-turn, because Mr Assange has been offering to be interviewed for years.

He said: "I assume this is because it is extremely likely that Julian will win a case in the Supreme Court in Sweden, determining that the arrest warrant be dropped.

"The court has recently announced it will hear the case, and it is quite obvious it will rule in Julian's favour."

Mr Hrafnsson accused Swedish prosecutors of doing " nothing" to move the case forward for years.

PA

Swedish authorities will fly to London to question Julian Assange

However, Swedish authorities said the development was because potential charges against Mr Assange expire under the statute of limitations in August this year.

Lead prosecutor Marianne Ny said in a statement: "My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorian embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future.

"Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies in the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward."

Swedish authorities want to question Mr Assange over allegations that he sexually assaulted two women while he was in Stockholm to give a lecture in 2010.

A Swedish court appeal upheld an arrest warrant against Mr Assange in November last year.

But Mr Assange fears he could be extradited to the United States to face charges over the release of top-secret documents by website Wikileaks.

Mr Assange's lawyer said he is happy to be questioned inside the Ecuadorian Embassy, but "irritated" it has taken so long.